The words lead and balloon spring to mind....

It wasn't good, apparently Im having a mid-life crises (im 39!!!!). Im selfish and inconsiderate and what about her??? - she is a healthy 61 year old who travels around the globe yearly on holidays. Rest of family v supportive. Oh dear. Told her it could in reality by years before we went, but was not impressed and actually suffered our wonderful photos of recent trip including commenting that the Rockies looked just like the "lake District" and that the sea looked dirty at 2nd Beach, Stanley Park.......

All in all she's def not impressed - anyone else's mothers etc actually warmed to the idea in the end.....

Mel.

Oh Dear! if it's any consolation my MIL has been a complete mare....you have to live your life, she obviously is living hers! She will just have another destination to visit!

Ha yep I said she would be able to visit for perhaps a month or so, but that was met with

Ahh well, never mind.

Strawberry

I told my mum as soon as we sent our application off. She then refused point blank to talk about it and asked me not to tell any of the family as she didn't want any awkward questions. We finally landed in 2007 and even though she had never flown before she came over last christmas to visit and is already planning her next visit for next summer. I think not seeing her grandchildren probably helped changed her mind but the conclusion I came to in the end was that you've got to live your own life and if people don't agree with it thats their choice. Our reason for coming was to give our children a better quality of life and I have never regretted the decision for a moment.

Tim

I really feel for you. We told my mum when we applied 2 years ago and she burst into tears. No-one was allowed to say the 'Canada' word for another 6 months. Then my Aunt forced her to face it by constantly talking about it whenever we were all together. Two years down the track I realise an odd query or comment about Canada is the best we can hope for from her. At first I was really annoyed with her reaction but now I know this is the only way she can cope with it and I can't make her accept it or be happy about it. I get pangs of guilt but not enough to stop us leaving...that's life! At the moment she's making the best of the final year with us....though its a tad suffocating. She's planning a big xmas and I'm lucky that my sister has decided to move near her and my dad next year. This is the downside of immigration but your not alone, most of us are in the same boat.

Hiya,
We told our parents that we are looking into it and suprisingly the MIL was fine and my mum was a nightmare! Thought it would be the other way round. We still haven't told the FIL though
We are not moving for a while yet so we just keep talking about it. I have also found that by getting my mum involved and showing her pics etc has worked wonders.
She still throws the odd comment into the mix about how im taking her granson away and "what will he do without his Nannies" but i just let it go over my head - if i didn't i think id be wracked with guilt!!
Keep your dreams alive with them so they can see how happy the prospect of moving makes you and then maybe they will realise what it means to you to have their support.
Good luck with the app process, hope it goes smoothly.
Linz

Hi yea we have 4 children, I tried to tell her why we liked it, but she just waved me away, - I really don't think she wants to hear anymore on the subject. I will leave it for new, and mention it again in a few months. Like I say we are a while off yet...

Its sounds as though you are at the same stage as us. We are looking at moving in approx 3 years so plenty of time for my mum to get used to the idea! lol
Would she consider going on holiday with you to Canada? Maybe not now but in the future, before you move?

When you visited BC, did you go to Kamloops? If, so what did you think? We can't decide at the moment between BC and Ontario.

Hi no Kamloops was the one place we didnt get to and wanted to, I loved the Okanagan, especially Kelowna and Vernon. We are looking at returning next year again.

Good luck.

Mel

I told about 5 people at the start and only one of them was a family member (sister). Now I have the visa more people are finding out and most only in the last week or so. It is proving to be a real nighmare, I am sick of people asking me why I want to move, why I didn't tell them etc. and my Mum is trying to get people to talk me out of going!

Hi Strawberry
I've been following your threads since your great post about your holiday here. Sounds like you did a very similar road trip to us and fell in love with Canada for the same reasons! 4 years after our first month long trip....here we are!
I know lots of people whose parents have reacted in a very similar way to yours. I think it's probably a bit of shock that promotes the harsh reactions people tend to get from their parents at first. Many people find that, over time, their parents start to adjust to the idea more, and although they don't come round completely and start slapping you on the back saying 'well done dear!', they usually thaw a bit.
If your mum is a traveller then she'll certainly come and visit you, and parents who travel usually come round quicker than those who are terrified of flying/never leave the UK etc etc. Not only do they begin to see that they can visit you relatively easily, but also, being keen travellers, they can also see the beauty of other places in the world and understand why you want to experience other things.
Sounds like you've done the 'breaking the bad news' bit in the best way you could, and you'll probably find that the worst is over. What will also help is if others in the family have taken it well, then they'll help bring her round!
I know you're thinking about possibly investigating Nova Scotia and the east coast too. Friends of ours who had a hard time with their mum eventually decided to settle there as it's just a 4 hour flight from the UK (their mum hates travelling abroad). Worth considering if things don't get any better perhaps? I'm sure they will though! Don't worry, we've all been there!

Know exactly where you are coming from. My mum even made herself ill. Then both sets of parents blamed either me or husband for taking the other away. Now we are here, they are planning holidays. So yeah, for most people it does work. You do have to remember that you are doing it for the right reasons.

My mother understood my reasons for leaving and supported me through it. She was very sad but made the comment that when I walked through the security gate at the airport I looked very positive.

The good thing is that my reasons for going have panned out quite nicely!

My mother, hates the idea, so did my father but he won't say it. she hated it when we told her, she still thinks it was just a crazy idea that we had, like all the other ideas we have, she has kind of accepted it now, but still 7 months in, every time we speak the 1st question is have you enjoyed your holiday ? and you can come back now.

shes even been for as visit and liked everything and is back in october, i dont think she will ever fully accept it though

Hi yes, we are still in the research bit, although I do think that for us, BC will take some beating. My mother will def not have that much of an influence on our decision where to settle, mainly because we aren't that close. I have found that both mine and OH fathers, who are both remarried have supported us but both mothers (who have not got partners or remarried) are fairly set against the idea....They just think that we will not think it through and that I am an idiot???? - I can't believe she thinks that I will not research this thoroughly, I tried to tell her that I had already done a year's researching online and 'spoken'frequently on here etc etc. but she just tutted and said that I was living some sort of unachievable dream..... hmmmmm. we shall see hey. blimey I had no idea that Nova Scotia was just 4 hours away from UK too.

Mel.